Bolt-fastener



T; TAYLOR.

BOLT FASTBNER.

No. 363,021 Patented May 17, 1887;

UNITED STATES PATENT UEFICE.

THOMAS TAYLOR, OF KEOKUK, IOVA.

BOLT-FASTENER.

SPECIPIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,021, dated May 17,1887.

Application filed February 25, 1887. Serial No. 228,806.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bolt-Fasteners; and I dohereby declare the following to be aful], clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, cheap, durable, andefficient bolt-fastening especially adapted for i'ailjoints.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction andcombinations of parts, more fully described hereinafter, and pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation;Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a top view; Figs. at and 5, detailviews of the key and washer, and Fig. 6 a side view showing the positionof parts before being driven in locking engagement.

A represents an ordinary T- rail, and B a pair of straps or plates uponopposite sides thereof. These plates are held together by means of abolt, 0, which extends through the plates and rail.

J is a transverse perforation or keyway eX- tending through the bolt,and through which passes a split linchpin or key, D. By thus splittingthe end of the pin twoprongs, E, are formed, the width of whichgradually tapers from the head F to the free ends of theprongs. This lugis preferably wedge-shaped, with walls which diverge outwardly from thecenter of the washer, and which are perpendicular, or nearly so, to theface thereof.

The washer Kis made,preferably,of springsteel and slightly arc-shaped,as will be seen in Fig. 6. The spreading lug is located at the vertex ofthe are, so that when the washer is forced' down against the plate bytheinsertion of the wedge-shaped key it will by its elasticity have atendency to constantly spring outward, and thereby assistin keepingthekey in place. Ahead, F, is so formed upon the key that a shoulder, I,is provided, by means of which the key may be withdrawn by the use of ahammer or similar instrument.

In using my device the operatorhas simply to place the washer over theend of the boltin (No model.)

such a manner that the spreading lug will come opposite the transverseperforation or keyway. The key is then inserted in theperforationopposite the spreading lug in sucha manner that the vertex of the lugwillentcr between the prongs E, and a few taps of the hammerupon thehead of the wedge or linchpin will force it forward and will spreadapart the prongs E,which pass astride the lug. The size of theperforation, key, and lug are so arranged that only a few taps of thehammer will suffice to securely hold the key in place, after which theflaring ends of the prongs E will prevent it from becoming jarred looseby passing trains. To withdraw the key it is only necessary to strikethe shoulder upon the head a few taps with the hammer.

The key is made wedge-shaped, so that any wear by constant jarring canbe taken up by simply driving it in a little farther with the hammer.

The advantages of mydevice are simplicity, cheapness, durability, andcase of operation. \Vhen the key is once driven in place, itlocks itselfand cannot drop out, and hot and cold weather do not affect it.

Although I have shown and described my invention as applied torail-joints, it is obvious that it can be applied with equal successupon bridges, cars, and,:in fact, wherever a bolt-fastening is needed.

It is evident that the details of my device could be varied in many wayswhich might suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic. Therefore I do notlimit myself to the precise construction herein shown, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bolt-fastening, a washer provided with a spreading lug havingdiverging sides perpendicular to the face of the washer, substantiallyas described.

2. In a bolt-fastening, a washer provided with a wedge-shaped lug, incombination with a split key, substantially as described.

3. In a bolt-fastening, the combination of a perforated belt, a splitkey, and washer provided with a lug, substantially as described.

In a bolt-fastening, a washer provided with a lug, in combination with aperforated In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n r0 bolt and key,substantially as described. presence of two witnesses.

5. In a bolt-fastening,an arc-shaped washer provided with a lug locatedat the vertex THOMAS TAYLOR.

5 thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a bolt-fasteningthe combination of a Witnesses: spring-washerprovided with a spreading lug; O. E. LAMB, a perforatedbolt, and splitkey, substantially J. E. BAUER. as described.

